Skip to main

Prostate Cancer Screening

Thanks to advanced screening techniques, prostate cancer screening guidelines have improved recent decades resulting in better treatment options and outcomes.

Screening for Prostate Cancer

In recent years, many advancements have been made in prostate cancer screening. These advancements have helped save countless lives. At Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, we take a unique individualized approach to prostate cancer screening guidelines.

But the fact remains: early stages of prostate cancer are harder to catch because signs and symptoms typically do not appear until the cancer has entered a more advanced stage. This is why screening for prostate cancer is so important for men, especially as they get older.

It is also important for men to know their family history of prostate cancer, any risk factors they might have as well as signs and symptoms, such as:

  • A need to urinate frequently, mostly at night
  • Difficulty urinating or holding urine
  • Weak or interrupted flow of urine
  • Burning sensation when urinating
  • Blood in the urine or semen
  • Pain when ejaculating
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Pain or stiffness in the lower back, pelvis, hips or upper thighs

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, speak to your doctor.

Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines

There are several prostate cancer screening tests that can be used to determine if a patient has prostate cancer. Most of these are performed on men over the age of 50, but talk with your doctor if you know you have a family history or if you have another health condition that puts you more at risk. Together, you can come up with a plan to be screened based on your personal situation.

At Winship, the prostate cancer care team uses one or more of the following prostate cancer screening tests and procedures to reach an accurate diagnosis:

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. PSA is a protein made by cells in the prostate gland. While PSA is mostly found in semen, a small amount of it can be found in the blood. This test is one of the most common screening tests for prostate cancer.

If PSA levels are high (typically over 4ng/mL), further tests will be needed to confirm a prostate cancer diagnosis. It is important to note that an abnormal age-adjusted PSA test may be an indication of prostate cancer, but that is not always the case. There are several reasons why a man’s PSA might be high, including:

  • An enlarged prostate
  • Older age
  • Recent ejaculation
  • Frequent cycling
  • Certain hormone medications like testosterone
  • Urological procedures

Talk with your doctor to learn more about PSA levels and any questions you may have.

Digital rectal exam (DRE). During a DRE, your doctor will feel for any bumps, abnormal growths or hard areas on the prostate. They will do this by inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum. It is usually a painless procedure that does not take long.

Advanced imaging tests. Advanced imaging tests involving X-rays, sound waves and magnetic fields take detailed pictures of tissues inside the body. These pictures can detect masses or tumors in the prostate region. For prostate cancer, this usually entails magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and transrectal ultrasound.

At Winship, our highly experienced radiologists offer the most advanced imaging available for all phases of prostate cancer including multiparametric (3D) prostate MRI to guide biopsies with more precision. Our radiology team is home to the only PET-MRI in Georgia, which combines the power of MRI and PET in one machine. Ask your doctor if specialty imaging is recommended for you.

Biopsy. If the PSA test comes back abnormal, a biopsy may be recommended. Small samples of the prostate are removed, analyzed and tested for cancerous cells.

Prostate Health Index (phi). This is a new technique that is still being studied. Phi is a more precise blood test that better distinguishes aggressive cancer from low-risk cancer.